Scheme to boost fitness in workplace

(From left to right) Chesterfield Royal Hospital kitchen staff Joanne Davis and Charlotte James

Published:14:14Thursday 10 March 2016

Businesses are encouraged to join up to a scheme that aims to help them improve their workplace health.

Healthy Workplaces Derbyshire is a free programme launched by Derbyshire County Council that offers health and wellbeing support tailored to individual organisation’s needs.

Since it launched in July the scheme has worked with more than 40 local businesses, who employ over 30,000 people, to get them fitter, healthier and happier.

Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for health and communities Councillor Dave Allen said: “Making sure that employees are healthy and happy is an important function of any business. The Healthy Workplaces programme offers innovative solutions for employers who want to create a healthy and engaged workforce and also signposts onto other health and wellbeing projects such as the Heart of Derbyshire healthy eating options scheme.

“We would encourage anyone who has a business in Derbyshire to get in touch and see how our team can help.”

Chesterfield Royal Hospital is just one of the organisations working with the Healthy Workplaces team.

Sarah Cooper, HR advisor at the hospital, said: “The team supported us to enable staff to access local weight management services and develop our range of physical activity sessions. In addition they have provided guidance to enable us to obtain the Gold Standard for the Heart of Derbyshire award so we can all benefit from a range of healthy meal options in our canteen - Café @ the Royal.”